Hi all! Just setting up the May challenge with @ccco’s suggested name… 😇
Intro etc can follow later today… I don’t want to tread on toes if someone is drafting it…
☀️☀️☀️
This topic contains 26 replies, has 12 voices, and was last updated by funshipfreddie 1 hour, 16 minutes ago.
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Day 1 country west Australia NFD
Thanks @jaifaim for setting this up. The vagaries of technology and rural life. Wifi not working due veto network issues for 2 days now.
These monthly challenges were started by @coda in May 2016 and have been going strong ever since. Goals can be overwhelming when viewed as a whole. But by breaking them down into small achievable pieces, we are able to stay focused and motivated to accomplish our goals one step at a time in bite-sized monthly challenges.
There are no rules, but as a general guide, here are some tips for any new people:
1. Posting – This is our only true rule: please start each post with the day of the month, where you are, and if you’re on a fast day (FD), non-fast day (NFD) or controlled day (CD). We’re located all over the world and in different time zones so it helps us keep track of which day we’re talking about, who else is fasting with us on a particular day etc. Look at the various posts, and you’ll soon see the pattern, and will learn how useful it is for reading.
2. In your first post, please introduce yourself to the group – this helps us to get to know each other, which is especially helpful for newbies. Perhaps say something about where you started, your journey so far, what you’re aiming for or how you are benefiting from fasting. You might like to include your starting weight or your goals for the month. But you don’t have to – share only what you are comfortable sharing online.
3. Spreadsheet – below is the link to the May Spreadsheet – It’s in alphabetical order by username. If you find it helpful, you can use it to record and track your progress as well as keeping track of how others are doing. It can help with perspective, accountability or planning. And if you need help just ask – there’s always someone happy to help. But you don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. It’s just another tool you can use if you choose.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17-IBPQOxK5UBUK-Vx7pqINE0bJqNaUSTrky_EqH0vNU/edit?usp=sharing
4. Frequency – Some people post daily, others check in every few days. Some are brief, others are long and chatty. If you’re posting for a second time in the same day please head your post e.g. Day 1 – 2nd Post. Past history shows that posting every day truly does help with motivation for staying on track with your goals, so please don’t feel shy about suddenly posting daily; we love new members!
5. Content of your post– Comments or questions, complaints or celebration – anything you’d like to share with the forum. Recipes, tips, tricks and bright ideas are always welcome. Remember: we all have good days and bad days, days we fall off the wagon or days when we are hanging on by our fingernails, days when our mojo deserts us and days where we feel completely in control. So DON’T GIVE UP – whatever it is, you are not alone!
6. Community – This is a worldwide forum so there’s usually someone online. We all do our best to offer advice, support and solidarity.
7. Pocket lists –A ‘pocket list’ is a list of the names of people who are sharing the same goal on a particular day. It’s great psychological support in mentally keeping that list in our back pocket, knowing we’re not alone. Anyone can join a pocket list or start a pocket list. Typical pocket lists are for a FD but in the past they’ve been used for people doing daily exercise or planks, or DTF (dry till Friday).
8. 5:2 basics – answers to many FAQs plus top tips:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/the-basics-for-newbies-your-questions-answered/
9. The “rule”. The F word (FAIL) is prohibited!! We all stumble in our journey – it happens. But acknowledge it, think about what you can do next time, and continue. We’re all here to help!
We tend to use a LOT of abbreviations in these posts. Here’s a guide to some of the more frequently used ones:
5:2 – 5 days NFD – 2 days FD
16:8 – 16 hours fast – 8 hours non fast
IF – Intermittent Fasting
ADF – Alternate Day Fasting (FD – NFD – FD – etc)
AF – Alcohol-free
B2B – Back to Back (consecutive FDs)
BMR – Basal metabolic Rate
CFD – Controlled Food Day (a day’s eating comfortably below your TDEE)
DH, DD, DS – Darling Husband, Daughter, Son
DTF – Dry ’til Fri (no wine, beer, etc.)
EE – Emotional Eating (reflex grazing out of a need for instant comfort instead of satisfying hunger)
EFS – Epic Face Stuffing (Definitely due to a faulty OFF button!)
FD – Fast Day (500 cals)
FD800 – Fast Day 800 calories
Hunger Dragon – that dreadful psychological beast that sometimes cannot be satisfied. Some people even name theirs (e.g. @i-hate-lettuce had an inner warthog!)
IF – Intermittent Fasting
Keto – way of eating that generates Ketones
KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid!!!
LC – Low Carb way of eating
LCHF – Low Carb High Fat way of eating
LFD – Liquid Fast Day (incl. tea, coffee, miso, bone broth & water)
LOL – Laughing Out Loud
M/WOAM – Man/Woman on a Mission (courtesy of @i-hate-lettuce)
MFD – Modified Fast Day (800 cals) on the new
Fast800, it’s a FD
MFP – MyFitnessPal – a smartphone app & website that tracks diet & exercise.
NFD – Non Fast Day
OH – Other Half (e.g. spouse/partner)
OMAD – One Meal A Day
PFDS – Post FD Smugness (courtesy of @stitchincarol )
Pocket List – Names to “keep in your pocket” for a common goal for the day
TDEE – Total Daily Energy Expenditure (see the ‘how it works’ link on the home page to work out yours)
TRE – Time Restricted Eating
WFD – Water Fast Day (Water only)
WFH – Working From Home
WOL – Way of Life
WOCA – Woman Of a Certain Age
WW – Weekend Warrior (c/- @jaifaim)
ZBC – Zero Breakfast Club
Thanks @funshipfreddie – have purloined your post from April
Day 1 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD
@jaifaim, @lilymartin – thank you! ‘Motivated May ☀’ – love it!
@lilymartin – it looks like you’ve posted a link for the ‘Mindful March’ spreadsheet there? And it hasn’t been reset/cleared, or whatever it is people do to it? 🤔
Pocket List – Day 1 🍳
@funshipfreddie
Day 1 – UK – NFD
Good morning – quick input before heading out for a walk with a friend before it gets too hot here 🥵
The spreadsheet attached by @lilymartin above is unfortunately the ONE FOR MARCH NOT MAY – here is the link for Motivated May 2025
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/123MWEFEEwP9PT8hw7dHgZopZPEi6Ow_LEWHM9EfMouE/edit?usp=sharing
Catch up this afternoon after my walk
2nd Post – Day 1
@at – thanks for the spreadsheet 🙏
Day 1 – USA/GA – NFD
Weigh-in: 236 lbs. Good progress this morning. Now, since August, I’ve been dealing with silent reflux, and it was having such an impact on my health — constant coughing and being unable to talk for more than five minutes without getting choked up. I believe this has been in part due to the weight gain over the past couple of years. Anyway, I had read about taking Nexium daily (with breakfast in the morning, so I skip FDs) and ending the evening with a liquid antacid after mealtime, and over the past month, it has worked wonderfully — feeling 80% recovered. Until, well, the past week. I finally realized it was my discovery of raw cabbage for FDs — doesn’t agree with me for an evening meal. Came to that conclusion last night, so I’ll avoid it on FDs.
All of this is setup for the Nexium regime. Since I have to take the pill in the mornings with food, I thought the best way is with an egg. I ate my last boiled egg last night. Well, with the price of eggs, I procure mine through a co-worker who has egg-laying hens. And although refrigerated, with being so cost-conscious, I try to make them last as long as possible in the back of the refrigerator. Long story short, some eggs are old. I was going to fry one this morning, but thought to use a bowl to ensure freshness as I cracked them. Only three left in the old crate (I have a fresh dozen from last Thursday to get into), and I crack the first one. Half of the egg misses the bowl (thinner shell than I thought) and went all over the cooktop and the floor. After cleaning that mess, it looked good and I put it into the pan. OK, well, let me crack another into the bowl (no mess this time) — perfect, so into the pan. That lone solitary egg … grrrr! Well, let me use it up. In my haste, not into the bowl but directly into the pan, and PUTRID, with nasty moldiness splattered across all the good eggs. YUCK! Quick, get the baking soda, scramble, cool and trash. Well, no eggs for me this morning. I was about to do some real self-pushing stuff in my anger as I eyed some heavy leftovers. I plated it up, and realized what a ridiculous thought that was, and just put plastic wrap over it and back into the refrigerator. I settled for a light wrap of about 120 calories instead.
Good morning!
Day 1 – Rural Nebraska, USA – FD800
Yesterday was a busy day, and I ate FAR too much–like, four full meals. I have no idea what was such a motivator for me, that I had to eat, eat, eat, but even as I was telling myself I wasn’t going to eat, I was walking to the fridge and getting out food. Thankfully, I ate decent food, not junk, but it was still well over–are you ready? drum rolll………..three thousand calories. Why??? No idea. Perhaps it was comfort eating, because it was a stressful day related to the move, and to an appointment we had with our financial advisor, and to the last day of catechism classes and the kids all cried when they realized all the things DH and I wouldn’t be here to do as we have in the past–and what a lovely moment that was to have them care so much… Oh well on the eating. Today I’ll eat less. (It won’t be a WF because I’m not going in to teach today.)
@northgeorgia I have never had an egg do that to my memory, and it was an astonishing and funny story, although I’m sure you weren’t laughing! And WELL DONE for recognizing the bad choice that plate of food was and putting it into the fridge! 👍💪
I had to leave the house at 7:10 yesterday morning to get to our new house by 8 for a delivery–which is why I didn’t post–and the day just never stopped. Today is much more sedate, although there’s lots to do. This moving business is tough, LOL! So off I go to work on my never-ending to-do list.
Oh, and I ended April lower than I started, but that’s only because I’d jumped up at the end of March…that seems to be a pattern, since I’ve jumped up today as well! ☹️😂
Have a grand one, everyone!
3rd Post – Day 1
Pocket List – Day 1 🍳
@funshipfreddie
@stitchincarol FD800
Day 1 NE England NFD
Hello May, glorious weather again today, trying to keep a toddler in the shade is hard work!!
I really must be more mindful this month and get back on track. I have my annual Kidney check coming up and hope to keep my good labs results going. Having said that, we are going away to Scotland tomorrow for 4 days then later next week we go to Wales for 4 days. Eating out and few alcoholic beverages will be involved🤭 on the plus side lots of walking too.
Day 1 Second post
What a different experience today is than yesterday: I’m back to my usual control, haven’t eaten a thing yet (it’s two o’clock) and believe I’ll make it to supper with no problem. Now, the ease with which I’m not eating may partly be just because my body is so astonished at how much I fed it yesterday, LOL, but I was actually hungry a couple different times so far today, and I had to employ RESOLVE to get through. Who knows what was up yesterday.
Anyway, I wanted to come celebrate that I was back to my normal self, LOL!
And, @daffodil2010 and @icystorm, where’d you both go??? We miss you; please come back!
Day 2 – Ireland 🇮🇪 – NFD
Morning. Happy Motivated May! I was out early every morning this week so did not have time to post, thanks for the shout @stitchincarol, I heard you 😄
I had a good April, keeping the 5lbs loss is very good. But more motivating is that I FEEL more toned and thinner, flabby belly slightly less than before, so all of my morning toning and “leaping about” with the 16:8 Monday to Friday is having some effect.
Operation Mototcycle Suit….well last week I could zip up my jacket without struggle. I am about to pop off now and try on the motorcycle trousers as I struggled a month ago. Motorcycle season is upon us and I need to fit into my gear!! I have outfits in all sizes, thousands of euro worth of motorcycle gear, but unfortunately it’s the largest size now I am trying to get into…but I WILL get into it.
It’s also the May Bank Holiday and we are off in our camper to the West this afternoon. We have great weather at the moment so we will go to our favourite bolt hole in Co Mayo looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, DH will fish and I will read, walk, relax.
Have a great weekend all. Xxxxx
Day 2 UK NFD
Just having a quick coffee in our hotel room before setting off for our trains home . Busy bank holiday weekend ahead and then a short 5 day trip to Naples on Wednesday, where I won’t be fasting ,but when I get back I’m determined to get back on track and register a decent loss in May
I’ll aim to catch up on posts on the train
Day 2 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – NFD 71.5 kg
It was good to kick off Motivated May with a FD; yay me! It was yet another a public holiday here – Workers Day – but I didn’t think that was a good enough excuse to skip the FD, seeing as I’m retired anyway 😅 Weight seems to be stuck at 71.5 though. It’s COLD here?! 🥶 At 7am my phone said 12C (feels like 9C) I’m going to Off the Hook down by the harbour later with some neighbours. It was planned when it was still warm though & we definitely won’t be sitting outdoors
@stitchincarol – 3000 calories?! 🤯 At least you counted them; though you probably wished you hadn’t 😅
@daffodil2010 – good for you! 5 lb down & getting into your motorcycle gear! 🥳 🎯 Enjoy your weekend getaway
@northgeorgia – shame about the eggs! 🥴 Fortunately, I’ve never had the experience of cracking a bad one – yet – but I’ve heard they smell revolting. Well done for your RESOLVE though 💪
@iona72 – enjoy your trip! 🧳
Interesting article about what fasting does to our brains..
https://www.sciencealert.com/fasting-style-diet-seems-to-result-in-dynamic-changes-in-human-brains
Happy Fri-yay! 🍹
Day 2 – Rural Nebraska, USA – NFD
Yesterday’s FD800 wasn’t: I had steaks in the fridge that I realized I could make for a rare Thursday evening dinner instead of sticking in the freezer, and there were some veggies that needed cooking, etc., etc., so it was a lovely meal. I pretty much did OMAD, so that at least was a win. This morning, I’ve already started packing up additional stuff from my sewing room, and done some tidying–this moving business is time-consuming, LOL!
@daffodil2010 How lovely that you’ve maintained the 5lb loss AND that you fit into your motorcycle trousers; well done! The next smaller size isn’t far away, don’t you suppose?
@brightonbelle I wish you pleasant traveling today!
@funshipfreddie Interesting article! And, full disclosure, it was only after the fact that I estimated my calories…it may well have been worse, LOL. What’s been fascinating me, however, is that other than a bit of a troubled stomach on Thursday morning as it struggled to digest all that food, I’ve felt good, not bloated, and one pair of jeans fits better than last week. Yes, I know that calories take longer than a day to turn into fat, but I keep remembering an article decades ago that said sometimes it pays to occasionally eat a lot (of healthy food) to pump up your digestive system, as long as you immediately return to decent levels of consumption. We’ll see. I’m certainly active these days and burning more calories than usual. 🤷🏻♀️
@excelsior12309 Wow, a FD on a Friday? That’s a level of determination I’ve never possessed, LOL! Have fun gardening!
After my noontime zoom call with my sisters, we’re headed down to the new house with another load, including several shelving units to put together and start tidying up some of the stuff that went down earlier this week. We’re excited to have the seller/our friend of 40 years come over this afternoon to visit. She promised to show me some of the gardening secrets hiding under the dirt, and it will be lovely to visit with her!
Okay, I’m off to take stuff out to my car. Have a grand one, everyone!
DAY 2 – UK – CD
Another perfect summer’s day 😎
Spent the day with my DD – dog walking on the coast then a light lunch by a lakeshore ❤️
Now back home enjoying the evening sunshine in the garden and promising myself to stay in control 🤞as this week has been a very controlled one so far and I would hate to undo all that hard work!!!
My goal this month is to lose at least 2kg therefore setting me back one that downward trend I have so longing for…..
So I am reminding myself “If I quit now, I will soon be back to where I started. and when I started, I was desperately wishing to be where I am now”
Day 4 – South Africa 🇿🇦 – FD
Happy S🌞nday! Hop on the list – you know it makes sense 😉
Pocket List – Day 4 🥚
@funshipfreddie
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8:35 am
1 May 25